It still stands, one of only two houses with a direct connection to George Washington himself, it may also be the second most famous house in the United States (after the White House).

It was stolen from the last owner by the US Government (because the owners wife failed to pay her property taxes, in person) in wartime. The owner’s son won it back about ten years later and sold it back to the government. You see it was no longer a particularly nice place to live, the government had used the lawn and even the rose garden as a cemetery. In fact, the government, in its vindictiveness buried the first soldiers, members of a colored Infantry unit, in the châtelaine’s prized rose garden. It did this while the owner, a soldier, who loved it above all material things, was on active duty. As you would surmise from looking at the house, the owner, was in fact, a general. He was, perhaps, the most famous American general in history.

Who was he?

He was the son of a Revolutionary hero, nicknamed Light-Horse Harry for his skill with the cavalry. He married the Step-Granddaughter of George Washington. He was one of the most intrepid of officers in the Mexican War, the first group of officers to have the stars fall on them.

The cemetery is Arlington National Cemetery. And so although it was started with some of the basest motives of revenge and rancor, it has become most meet and fit. Now America’s best and bravest sleep around the house of America’s best general. The very man who once said that:

Duty is the most sublime word in our language. Do your duty in all things. You cannot do more. You should never wish to do less.

Those resting around his house have certainly done their duty, beyond compare.

And so as we celebrate Memorial/ Decoration Day let us remember all those who have done their duty, even unto the last full measure of devotion.

In a related matter, General Lee’s citizenship was restored by Public Law 94-67 signed by President Ford on 5 August 1975 thus restoring him to citizenship in the country he loved second only to Virginia, itself.

A Reminder of Our Heritage

In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin.

But this is predicated upon the person’s becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American…There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn’t an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag… We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language.. And we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people

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You have a great love of history and liturgy. You’re attached to the traditions of the ancients, yet you recognize that the old world — great as it was — is passing away. You are loyal to the customs of your family, though you do not hesitate to call family members to account for their sins.